In this episode USSC CEO Dr Michael Green and USSC Director of Research Jared Mondschein sat down with USSC Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck on Friday, 6 March 2026 to discuss the latest on the war with Iran.

What led the United States to attack Iran now? How does this compare to the Iraq War and actions of prior administrations? How are US allies responding?

Mike draws on his experience in the White House during the Iraq War and Jared addresses broader Middle East dynamics to unpack this issue and what it means for US allies and partners.

The Trump administration recently completed its AUKUS review, including a directive from President Trump to proceed “full steam ahead” on AUKUS Pillar I. But even after securing the Trump stamp of approval, there has been comparatively little information on how the review handled Pillar II and experts have raised concerns about the growing scope of advanced capabilities it now includes.

Is AUKUS Pillar II fit for purpose? Which advanced capabilities can deliver the best return on investment in the near term? Is AUKUS Pillar II a “solution in need of a problem”?

USSC Non-Resident Fellow Sophie Mayo and USSC Research Fellow Tom Corben joined USSC Director of Impact and Engagement Mari Koeck on the podcast to discuss these questions.

Both experts have recently published on AUKUS Pillar II:

• Impact and effort: A menu of AI and autonomy options for AUKUS Pillar II – Sophie Mayo
• AUKUS Pillar II under pressure – Tom Corben

Subscribe to the USSC Briefing Room on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.

Produced by: Elliott Brennan

Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat

Are we seeing a rupture or a transition in 2026? USSC CEO Dr Michael Green and USSC Director of Foreign Policy and Defence Dr Lavina Lee sat down with host Mari Koeck to discuss what the geopolitical developments in Iran, Venezuela and Greenland mean for alliances and middle powers.

Can NATO survive the Greenland pressure? What is the end game with Venezuela and Iran? How should middle powers like Canada and Australia respond?

Tune in to hear Mike and Lavina’s candid assessments of US foreign intervention and the response by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Subscribe to the USSC Briefing Room on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.

Produced by: Elliott Brennan

Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat

India’s relationships with key international partners changed significantly in 2025. Following the tariff standoff with the United States, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in close meetings with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Summit. And an Indian Defence Minister visited Australia for the first time in 12 years in October.

What is driving these changes in India’s international relationships? Will they have a long-term impact? Where is the future of India-US and India-Australia relationships headed?

USSC Maitri Fellow Rushali Saha joined Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck on the podcast to discuss these questions. Rushali is an independent researcher and analyst with Horizon Intelligence and she has previously worked with several New Delhi-based think tanks.

Read Rushali’s new report: Securing the Indian Ocean: Elevating the India-Australia Maritime partnership.

Rushali’s Maitri Fellowship was supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Subscribe to the USSC Briefing Room on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.

Produced by: Elliott Brennan

Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat

Admiral Lisa Franchetti’s career spanned 40 years, nearly half of which was at sea. She was the first woman to serve as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the first woman to serve as Chief of Naval Operations and only the second woman to ever be promoted to four-star admiral in the US Navy.

When visiting Australia in November, Admiral Franchetti (ret’d) joined Research Fellow Tom Corben on the podcast to discuss: What has changed in the global security environment from the Cold War to now? What do the changes over the past year indicate about the future direction of the US military? What will be the biggest challenge facing the US military over the next 40 years?

Recently we have seen cracks forming within the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement. We are seeing Republican members of Congress push back on issues, like the Epstein files or President Trump’s approach to Ukraine, in the most significant way since he took office in January.

What is causing these rifts within the MAGA movement? Is MAGA whatever President Trump says it is? How are these tensions likely to play out?

Non-Resident Senior Fellow Lester Munson joined Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck to discuss these questions. Lester has held multiple positions on Capitol Hill and is based in DC, at the epicentre of these MAGA tensions.

The United States Studies Centre (USSC) has just released our annual Allies and partners poll.
The USSC polled publics in Australia, the United States, Japan and, for the first time this year, India. This means there was polling data to compare public opinion across all four Quad countries.
Where do the Quad countries stand on Trump, security and the future of the Indo-Pacific? What are the biggest similarities and differences between the Quad countries on foreign policy? How has Trump 2.0 changed US relationships with these countries? How supportive are the four publics of militarising the Quad or sending forces to Taiwan in the event of an invasion?

To discuss these questions, polling authors USSC Senior Research Associates Samuel Garrett and Ava Kalinauskas joined Mari Koeck on the podcast.
Subscribe to the USSC Briefing Room on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.

Produced by: Elliott Brennan

Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat

On 2 April 2025, President Trump announced sweeping tariffs on most countries around the globe as part of “Liberation Day” but is the president allowed to impose tariffs like that? This is the question the US Supreme Court is considering at the moment.

What were the arguments for and against the presidential power to unilaterally tariff? How are the justices likely to decide? How could their decision impact one of the president’s signature policies?

To consider these questions, we invited ABC’s Planet America Co-Host Chas Licciardello back on the podcast with Director of Impact and Engagement Mari Koeck to take a deep dive into the Supreme Court tariffs case.

If you like a deep dive on Supreme Court issues, you may want to listen to these other episodes with Chas:

• Deep dive into Trump’s Supreme Court immunity hearing with Chas Licciardello
• Trump’s immune. It is so ordered – featuring Chas Licciardello

Check out PEP with Chas and Dr Dave here:

• YouTube
• Spotify
• Apple

Subscribe to the USSC Briefing Room on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.

Produced by: Elliott Brennan

Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat